Atlanta Content Creator Inspiring [life] style

Monday, December 31, 2012

Makeup and Muses: Julep December Maven Box Review

Happy New Year!
Are you a fan of Julep like I am? Well I recently received the Julep December Maven Box: Classic With a Twist. This particular box includes two nail colors and a foot scrub.

The Instant Warming Foot Scrub is scented in cucumber and mint with a natural pumice.

The foot scrub warms up on contact and then the pumice exfoliates.


Ingredients like chili pepper oil stimulate circulation in your feet while vitamin E nourishes. All you have to do is use the scrub 2-3 times a week. 

The last Maven box that I received also included a foot scrub, but this one is a bit different because it is meant to be more of a scrub than a lotion.

Because it is a scrub it does exfoliate much better than a regular lotion.



The two colors that come with the Julep Classic With a Twist box are Barbara and Scarlett. 

Barbara is a full coverage magenta glitter, while Scarlett is a vibrant red metallic. I put on Scarlett first and then added Barbara on top.

It turned out like a really pretty shimmery oxblood that you might have seen on my Instagram.




As you can see, I wanted to showcase what Scarlett looks like before the glitter. Two coats will give you this very nice shade of red.

My other hand is with both Scarlett and Barbara. All you need to do is put on two coats of Scarlett to achieve the glitter shimmer over the red.

Once the two colors are on top of each other they make a great oxblood/burgundy shade, which is pretty much all the rage these days.

The color is a great holiday party look that would rock on your nails this New Year's Eve!

The Maven box also contained a DIY cabochon ring that you could paint on with your nail polishes to create a ring color of your choice.

What do you think of the Scarlett and Barbara nail colors in the Classic With a Twist Julep December Maven box?
~~~
And come enter the Tory Burch makeup bag giveaway!
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Friday, December 28, 2012

Editorials: A Little Something for the Holidays

Did everyone enjoy their Christmas? I sure hope so. I just got back from a fun trip in Tahoe. It was my first time sledding and tubing. You might have seen the photos if you follow me on Instagram. And now I am gearing up for my first trip to Hawaii where I will spend the rest of 2012 and ring in the new year. But before I ditch the snow for the sun, I'll leave you with these holiday editorials.

When I had the idea to do a post on holiday editorials, this first one from the December 2012 issue of Allure was exactly what I had in mind. 

The model is Edita Vilkeviciute and the photographer is Raymond Meier. 

I love the snow, the fur, and even the pink ascents mixed with the plum wine lips that everyone is infatuated with this year. 

Isn't this the type of editorial that you'd love to be a part of? One where you get to wear your hair all funky, dress up in way too many baubles, and just smile and look pretty for the camera?
Josephine Skriver for Harper's Bazaar UK
David Chiang and Toni Garrn for Vogue Germany
Which editorial is your favorite?
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Tory Burch Holiday Giveaway

So Christmas might be over, but it's still the season of giving, right? I'd like to celebrate the holidays with you, muses by giving away this beautiful +Tory Burch bag!
The bag is from the Target + Neiman Marcus Holiday 24 collection and is originally a lunch box. But I've heard from other bloggers that they like it as a traveling makeup bag. The graphic print epitomizes the Tory Burch style.
The inside has an anti-microbial lining that makes it easy to clean and a two-way zip top with the classic TB logo. This bag is definitely one of the better pieces from the Holiday 24 collection and it has great reviews. I'm tempted to keep it for myself.Tory Burch is a lifestyle brand that creates stylish and wearable clothing and accessories for women of all ages, and now you have a chance to get this for free!

Here's how to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

♥ This giveaway is open to U.S., Canada and International followers of the Muse ~ Ends January 9, 2013 ♥

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Monday, December 24, 2012

Lookbook: Caped Crusader

Last week I told you about my collaboration with GigaSavvy in my Lookbook: Coats and Cozy post. Today I'm showcasing the second item that I received, which is this beautiful Via Spiga asymmetrical front cape.The coolest part about this cape (other than the fact that it's a cape and I've been really into capes lately) is the neckline. The funnel neckline has a two-button closure and an asymmetrical zipper. This cape comes with armholes that allow for easy accessibility. On top of all of that, it is machine washable.What I didn't like so much about the cape is even though it was a size S/M, it felt much bigger than that. I would have preferred if the fit was a bit smaller and more snug, even for a cape.Michael Kors sunglasses | Via Spiga asymmetrical cape c/o GigaSavvy | F21 jeans | Vera Wang sneaker wedges | No name gloves

But this look makes me feel all prim and proper like, which is why I had to put on my gloves. I think that's the only way to feel whenever you're dressed in either a cape or a peacoat. It's hard not to feel like a lady, am I right?What do you think of this look?

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Friday, December 21, 2012

On My Mind: December 2012

This On My Mind post is based on the InStyle Australia issue with Emma Stone.
It's the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine.

♥ Where do you get your sweet fix from?
♥ Are you a girly girl?
♥ What was your best burger ever?
♥ What would you never give up?
~~~
What's on your mind this month?
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Inspiring Style: Holiday Gift Guide

Chanukah just ended and Christmas is right around the corner. I must say, 2012 was a quick one. Every year seems to go by faster, and every holiday seems to have even cuter pieces that I have my eyes on. Let's do it co-ed with a holiday gift guide for the ladies and the guys. I always find the most interesting gifts from Fab.com, which is where you can get your hands on most of these items. How awesome is that spine bracelet? The hubs would go nuts for that bacon press (FYI: the way to a man's heart is bacon).

The orange crystal and rhinestone bracelet from InPink has some stretch and is covered with Austrian crystals and matte metallics. I just love the color combination. And collar tips aren't just for the girls anymore. You can find the Tally & Hoe skull collar tips from Asos, one of my all-time online shopping favorites.
For Him
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Monday, December 17, 2012

Lookbook: Coats and Cozy

Recently, I was invited to participate in a VIP online shopping experience with GigaSavvy. I was able to pick out a couple coats to review from the 2012 Fashion Collection. 'Tis the season for cozy coats, comfy capes and stylish jackets, so I was very happy to browse the online catalog.

This fashion retailer has a plethora of clothing so it was hard to narrow it down to only a couple of pieces. Brands like DKNY, Style&Co. and Steve Madden are just a few of the options available.But two specific pieces caught my eye so I'll share one of those with you now. This Bar III sleeveless patterned faux fur vest is as snugly as it looks. When I first put it on my hubs looked at me and said, "You must be warm because you look really warm." The collar has a faux fur texture that also provides the inner lining of the vest. You could even choose to wear it inside out for more versatility.Michael Kors sunglasses | Bar III vest c/o GigaSavvy | Proenza Schouler sweater | Jewelmint mod moons bracelet | Forever 21 jeans | Vera Wang sneaker wedges

The vest goes really well with just about anything that you'd wear this time of year. I paired it with my new favorite Proenza Schouler sweater. This is what I wore to the Mountain View farmer's market, which seemed to be the place to be on the weekend because it was crowded with people who wanted organic everything.My only issue with this vest is that it seems a bit big on me, but maybe that's what I get for being so small. It doesn't matter because I'll be wearing this a lot in the next few weeks. If you live in the bay area, be sure to spot me out via this vest.What do you think of this look?

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Friday, December 14, 2012

Featured Fashionista: Febrina

Featured Fashionista

Febrina from JakartaI was recently introduced to Febrina's blog and I've been a fan ever since. She just opened her online store, and it's easy to see why. The girl knows how to wear clothes and put together an outfit, so why not sell some great looks as well!

What do you think of Febrina's look?

Want to be a part of Featured Fashion? Then leave a comment letting me know that you want me to feature your style on the Muse!

Check out a list of all my beautiful Featured Fashionistas for anyone you might have missed.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Makeup and Muses: La Bella Donna Review


Long-lasting mineral makeup is like a girl's best friend. When makeup is made from rocks in an inorganic state it is not absorbed into the skin, which allows the mineral makeup to keep your pores unclogged. 

What kind of makeup can do this? La Bella Donna Minerals On-The-Go for one.

I received this Minerals On-The-Go dispensing brush to review. The container is really useful and inventive. 

The coolest thing is that the tube contains both the mineral foundation and the white goat hair brush for application. 
To use, just remove the lid to showcase the brush. The dispenser comes with a dial with 10 points of application. Dials 1-3 provide light application; dials 4-6 provide medium application; and dials 7-10 provide full coverage. 

The fact that you can easily choose how much coverage you want is reason enough to try this product at least once. 


Once you've decided which dial to use, simply brush lightly all over your face. You should see the makeup as you're applying.

My favorite attributes of the La Bella Donna Minerals On-The-Go product are the dial system and ease of use. I don't know of any other foundation that allows you to choose the coverage using a simple dial.

This means you can personalize the amount of color you want depending on the occasion. Also, the tube is perfect for traveling because it includes the mineral makeup and the application brush all in one.

As an added bonus, the mineral makeup provides a full spectrum natural UVA/UVB SPF 20 sunblock that lasts all day. This means you can wear this makeup to go swimming or exercising without worrying about removal. But because of the minerals, you can easily remove it with a cleanser. The product was not tested on animals and was made in the USA.

What I didn't like too much about the Minerals On-The-Go foundation is that, even when I used a full application, I didn't feel like it gave me as much coverage as I normally get with my liquid makeup. Also, I received the Honey shade, which I think is a bit too light for my skin tone, and I believe the darker Caffe shade would have made coverage application less of an issue.


My overall review:
♥♥♥ 
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Monday, December 10, 2012

Lookbook: Caught on Cape

Do you find that you get more done when no one is around? I know I do. When people are over, I seem to get a case of the laze-ees. But as soon as I get some peace and quiet and time to myself, the first thing I want to do is clean up. I can't help it. It's the Jamaican in me.This is what I wore to the hubs' office holiday party at City Hall in San Francisco. It was a beautiful setting with a ton of free food, free drinks, free gambling (that's right--free gambling), free caricatures and people actually dancing on the dance floor.

On my fingers I'm wearing my current favorite colors: Kate by Julep and Tart Deco by Essie on the accent nails. And yes, that is lipstick you see--very rare. I'm wearing Clinique watermelon lipstick with Plastic by Anastasia of Beverly Hills on top.

I picked up this cute crossbody bag when I was at Target the other day. I love how small it is, even though it's big enough to hold all my crap goodies on the inside. And don't you love the color too? I forgot to put on jewelry for these photos, but don't you worry, I made up for that for the party.

This Libertine Scarf Blouse by Sugarlips is so elegant. I love how it's flirty on one side and all business on the other--like a fashionable mullet. And the Prabal Gurung cape is one of the three pieces I bought from the Holiday 24 collection. I love my picks because some of the other items from the collection weren't as hot in person.♥ Prabal Gurung cape ♥ Libertine Scarf blouse c/o Sugarlips ♥ F21 wide leg pants ♥ Rachel Roy Zefferina booties ♥ Target crossbody bag

What do you think of this look?
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Friday, December 7, 2012

Movie Review: Killing Them Softly

I want to preface this by saying, I don't care what anyone thinks. Brad Pitt is my homeboy. He will be my favorite even when he's well into his 80s. I loved that he was the lead in the movie Killing Them Softly because I had read the book (Cogan's Trade) envisioning his face.

Killing Them Softly is about a hit man who has to come in and put things back in order after a card game gets picked off. The movie talks more than it does so that can be a problem when you think you're going in to see a shoot-em-up film. 

But don't get me wrong, when the action does hit, it hits hard. Let's just say, they're not afraid to use a shotgun. 
I had no problem with the acting in the movie or the setting. It was done very close to the book. What I did have a problem with was the stylistic feel of the film. It was directed by Andrew Dominik, who hasn't made any commercial successes, even though he did direct The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (which also starred Brad Pitt). 

Also, there was a definite politic theme in the film that was not in the book. It was cool at first, but then went a bit overboard imo. 

The film also stars James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins and Ray Liotta.

Although the movie was good, I think it would have been much better if someone else directed it. Basically, it reminds me of my movie review of The Master. The preview for the film does more for it than the film itself.

My rating: ♥♥
~~~
Some Other Reviews:

Movies
Skyfall................♥♥♥
great action and Javier Bardem's character was excellent. But the movie was way too long.
Flight.................♥♥♥
interesting role for Denzel Washington with an ending that might not be typical in a Denzel movie.
Argo.....................♥♥♥♥
well told and well filmed based on a true story movie. The acting was compelling and might even earn Ben Affleck another award.

Books
Delirium...............♥♥♥♥
The Left Hand of Darkness..............♥♥
Gone Girl................♥♥♥♥♥
Cogan's Trade...........♥♥♥♥
Tinkers...............♥♥♥

Have you seen any of these movies or read any of these books?
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Inspiring Style: How-To Office Holiday Party

Drive with Friends ~ Get the co-worker crew together and drive to the holiday party in style. Consider renting a limo or SUV with a driver so that no one has to worry about being the designated driver. You and a few of your best work friends can even leave the party early or ditch it all together before heading to In-N-Out.

Snack and Sip ~ When you get to the office holiday party, don't hesitate to indulge in the festivities. Enjoy the snacks and the cocktails--just don't over do it. As I'm sure you've heard before, there's nothing cute about getting wasted in front of your boss. But having some spirits will certainly lift your spirits. Eat the snacks for a good balance.

Dress for the Occassion ~ A lot of people work in office environments where they have a dress code. So for us fashion girls, it's great to have a night where we can just dress up and show off our inner fashion femme fatale. Don't be afraid to wear that gown or those sparkly shoes.

For the GirlsVince sequin pencil skirt | Dorothy Perkins red lace peplum top | Henry Holland suspender tights from Peek Brooklyn | Zara studded vamp heel

Casual Guy
Rag & Bone sweater from Target | American Apparel elephant t-shirt from Etsy | Colored twill pants | Louis Vuitton shoes

Dressy GuyThom Browne blazer from Target | Zara combined oxford shoes | 484 slim-fit jeans from J. Crew | Tommy Hilfiger satin tie from Macy*s
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Monday, December 3, 2012

Lookbook: C&C Coast to Coast Cool Contest

The hubs and I had a very interesting weekend. Friday night I waited until around 10:45 PM to buy some items from the Holiday 24 collection. Click this Facebook link to see what I got! Saturday morning we ran some errands and then decided to stop by an actual Target store to see the aftermath of the collection. To my surprise there was no such aftermath. EVERYTHING from the collection was still available and intact, as I showcased on my Instagram

This older lady came over to the collection and looked at one of the Marchesa dresses for little girls. She said: "Why is this dress $60? Oh, it's Neiman Marcus." LOL--that made my day.This is what I wore for my Saturday adventures, and also my entry for the C&C California Coast to Coast Cool contest. They sent me this boat neck top that has a very nice shimmer, but I'm not sure the pictures show that well. It's 100% cotton with a high-low hem. This sweater totally reminds me of the holidays because of the color. I feel like I should be sipping a hot chocolate in these pictures. Someone get me a hot chocolate.♥ Kabuki necklace c/o Sway Chic ♥ Long sleeve boat neck hi-lo sweater c/o C&C California ♥ Charlotte Russe blazer ♥ Blank Denim Jeans ♥ Christian Siriano pumps ♥Saturday night we decided to take the Bay Area light rail for the first time since living here for more than a year. I was pleasantly surprised by how clean and efficient the tram was, even if our destination--downtown San Jose--was a little scheezy. But I suppose it's like any downtown...to the right you have tall buildings and nice restaurants, and to the left you have a homeless park.

We saw the movie Killing Them Softly (review to come) and ate at an asian fusion restaurant called Mosaic. It had the BEST crab puffs ever.

How did you spend your weekend and what do you think of this look?
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